Camping Apparatus

ABSTRACT

In one aspect, the present invention is directed to a camping apparatus comprising: a mattress; at least one additional camping appliance; and at least one connector, for connecting the additional camping appliances to the mattress; wherein the mattress being a functional part of at least one of the camping appliances. In one embodiment of the invention, an additional camping appliance is a sleeping appliance such as a blanket, linen, a pillow, and a sleeping bag. The connector may be a zipper, Velcro, a button, sewing, gluing, and so forth. Preferably, the mattress is inflatable. According to one embodiment of the invention, the mattress and each of the additional camping appliances having a substantially straight edge, by which the mattress and a camping appliance may be connected.

The present application claims priority from Israel Patent Application no. 181758, filed 6 Mar. 2007, a certified copy of which will be submitted to the USPTO.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to the field of camping appliances.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

A tent is a shelter, which usually consists of a canopy made of fabric or other material draped over or attached to a frame of poles and/or ropes. Some tent styles are free-standing, while others are attached to the ground using guy ropes tied to pegs.

Today, the main application of tents is for recreational camping. Modern tents are usually made of fire-retardant material. Tents range in size from those barely large enough for one person to sleep in up to huge circus tents capable of seating thousands of people.

Tents for recreational camping are generally transportable by car. Depending on tent size and the experience of the person or people involved, such tents can usually be assembled from 5 to 25 minutes, and disassembled in about the same time. Smaller tents may be sufficiently light that they can be carried for long distances on a person's back, touring bicycle, and so forth.

Tents are an example of camping appliance. An air mattress is an additional example of a camping appliance. A typical air mattress is inflatable and is usually made of plastic or textile-reinforced plastic, rubber, and so forth. A deflated mattress can be rolled up or folded and carried or stored relatively easily; making air mattresses a popular choice for camping trips. Air mattresses are inflated either orally by blowing into a valve, or with a manual foot-powered or electric pump. Some air mattresses are even automatically inflated just by opening the valve.

A sleeping bag is an additional example of a camping appliance. A basic sleeping bag is simply a square blanket, fitted with a zipper on two sides allowing the sleeping bag to be folded in half and secured in this position. A sleeping bag of this type is packed by being folded in half or thirds, rolled up, and bound with straps or cords. The basic design works well for most camping needs but is inadequate under more demanding circumstances. Many different insulating materials are available for sleeping bags, such as synthetic materials, cotton and wool. Wool repels water and also resists compression, but it weighs much more than any alternative fabric. Cotton suffers from high water retention and significant weight, but its low cost makes it an attractive option.

Nowadays, all the above mentioned camping appliances function separately, and consequently cannot have the benefits of using them as one apparatus.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a camping apparatus, which can combine a plurality of camping appliances, and therefore gain the benefits thereof, such as compactness, simple assembly and disassembly.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent as the description proceeds.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following embodiments and aspects thereof are described and illustrated in conjunction with systems, tools and methods, which are meant to be merely illustrative, not limiting in scope. In various embodiments, one or more of the above-described problems have been reduced or eliminated, while other embodiments are directed to other advantages or improvements.

In one aspect, the present invention is directed to a camping apparatus comprising:

-   -   a mattress;     -   at least one additional camping appliance; and     -   at least one connector, for connecting the at least one camping         appliance to the mattress;         wherein the mattress being a functional part of the camping         appliance.

In one embodiment of the invention, the at least one additional camping appliance is a sleeping appliance such as a blanket, linen, a pillow, and a sleeping bag.

The connector may be a zipper, Velcro, a button, sewing, gluing, and so forth.

Preferably, the mattress is inflatable.

According to one embodiment of the invention, the at least one additional camping appliance is a tent canopy.

The camping apparatus may further comprise a supporting frame. The supporting frame may comprise one or more poles.

In one embodiment, least one of the poles is extensible.

A pole may comprise a plurality of segments. In one embodiment a segment is interlaced with the adjacent one thereof.

A pole may further comprise a cable for connecting and/or fastening the segments thereof. The segments may be fastened by one or more clips at the ends of the connecting cable.

In one embodiment of the invention, at least one of the segments has a truncated conical form. According to another embodiment of the invention, at least one of the segments has a truncated pyramidal form.

The mattress may be adapted to be filled with gas, fluid (such as water), and so forth.

According to one embodiment of the invention, one or more of the edges of the apparatus is adapted to be connected with other camping apparatuses. Thus, a plurality of camping apparatus may be connected.

According to one embodiment of the invention, the mattress and at least one of the additional camping appliances having a substantially straight edge, by which they may be connected.

In addition to the exemplary aspects and embodiments described above, further aspects and embodiments will become apparent by reference to the figures and by study of the following detailed description.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The objects and features of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 schematically illustrates a camping apparatus during mounting, according to one embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 2 schematically illustrates the camping apparatus of FIG. 1, mounted.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view which schematically illustrates a segmented pole, according to one embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 4 schematically illustrates the pole of FIG. 3, in a loose state.

FIG. 5 is a sectional view which schematically illustrates a segmented pole, according to another embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 6 schematically illustrates a camping apparatus, according to one embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 7 schematically illustrates the deployment of the segments of FIG. 6.

FIG. 8 schematically illustrates the deployment of a camping apparatus comprised of three segments, according to one embodiment of the invention.

It is to be understood, however, that the drawings are designed solely for purposes of illustration and not as a definition of the limits of the invention, for which reference should be made to the appended claims. It should be further understood that the drawings are not necessarily drawn to scale and that, unless otherwise indicated, they are merely intended to conceptually illustrate the structures and procedures described herein. Reference numerals may be repeated among the figures to indicate corresponding or analogous elements.

Detailed Description of Preferred Embodiments

In the following detailed description, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the disclosure. However, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that the present invention may be practiced without these specific details. In other instances, well-known methods, procedures, components and circuits have not been described in detail, so as not to obscure the present disclosure.

As mentioned above, all the above mentioned camping appliances function separately, and consequently cannot have the benefits of using them as one apparatus.

According to one aspect of the present invention, a plurality of appliances is joined, thereby allowing employing a certain part of a camping appliance also for an adjacent camping appliance.

For example, a sleeping bag has two parts: an upper part, which is actually a blanket, and a lower part, which is actually a sheet. By designing the upper part of the sleeping bag (i.e., the “blanket”) to correspond to a mattress underneath and to be connected to the mattress underneath, the lower part of the sleeping bag (i.e., the “sheet”) is spared.

According to another example, a mattress is used also as the bottom of a tent. Thus, the entire material required for the bottom of the tent is spared.

Since a part of one camping appliance is utilized by a plurality of appliances, less material is required for constructing the camping apparatus than the appliances thereof separately. As a result, the weight and volume of the camping apparatus is less than the weight and volume of the appliances thereof, i.e., the camping apparatus is more compact in comparison to the appliances thereof.

FIG. 1 schematically illustrates a camping apparatus during mounting, according to one embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 2 schematically illustrates the camping apparatus of FIG. 1, mounted.

According to this embodiment, the camping apparatus 2 comprises a plurality of appliances wherein each one having a straight edge by which the additional camping appliances can be connected. Camping apparatus 2 has a book-like appearance, which from the technical point of view, is a collection of bonded pages. In the present invention pages are substituted by camping appliances. As in a book in which the pages are bonded at a straight edge, according to embodiments of the present invention, each of the appliances comprises a straight edge by which each appliance can be connected to the straight edge of other camping appliances.

In the example of FIG. 1 mattress 22 has a straight edge 52, to which a sheet 24, a blanket 12, and a canopy 28, are connected. Accordingly, each of the appliances 24, 12 and 28 has a straight edge through which it can be connected to the other camping appliances.

By adding frame 14 to support the canopy 28, the camping apparatus 2 turns to be a tent, as illustrated in FIG. 2.

Mattress

The mattress 22 provides the foundation of the tent's construction. Assuming the mattress 22 is not inflatable, all the user has to do is to mount frame 14, an operation which takes from a few seconds to a few minutes. Thus, assembling the camping apparatus 2 is a very simple and relatively fast operation.

In case where the mattress 22 is inflatable, the user must first to inflate the mattress, which provides the foundation of the camping construction as mentioned above, and then to mount the frame 14. If the inflation is carried out by automatic means, such an operation takes seconds.

According to one embodiment of the invention, a sleeping bag may be placed instead of or in addition to the tidy 14 and the blanket 12.

In case where the mattress 22 is inflatable, the folded camping apparatus 2 is very compact. More particularly, since the camping apparatus 2 combines a plurality of camping appliances, when apparatus 2 is folded its volume may be less than the total volume of the camping appliances thereof.

The Connector

The mechanism for binding a plurality of camping appliances is referred herein as “connector”. A zipper, sewing and Velcro are examples of connectors.

A connector may be either a detachable mechanism (e.g., a zipper) or a non-detachable mechanism (such as sewing). Usually a non-detachable mechanism provides a more sealed construction in comparison to a detachable mechanism. Thus, for hard weather condition one may prefer a non-detachable connector although it may have some drawbacks, such as a difficulty in washing.

Velcro is a well known means for attaching components, which can be used as a detachable connector. Velcro is a brand name of fabric hook-and-loop fasteners used for connecting objects. The term VELCRO is a registered trademark in most countries.

Other well known attaching mechanisms that may be applied in detachable connectors are buttons (and corresponding loops), zippers, gluing, and so forth.

The Poles

FIG. 3 is a sectional view which schematically illustrates a segmented pole, according to one embodiment of the invention. FIG. 4 schematically illustrates the pole of FIG. 3, in a loose state.

Segments 14 a to 14 d of the pole are interlaced. Each segment has a conical or pyramidal structure, whose top is “truncated”. This structure allows interlacing the segments. A cable 20 that passes through the segments connects them. Two clips, one on each edge of the cable, allow keeping the fastened construction in this state. A clip is comprised of a housing 32, a pin 34 and a spring 36 which fastens the cable 20 to the wall of housing 32.

FIG. 5 is a sectional view which schematically illustrates a segmented pole, according to another embodiment of the invention. The illustrated segments, 46 a and 46 b, are the extreme segments of the pole (the first and the last ones). A rubber cable 42 connects the interlaceable segments. Balls 44 a and 44 b, which are connected to the rubber cable 42, are used as stoppers. By interlacing segment 46 b into the corresponding depression 48 a of segment 46 a, the rubber cable 42 fastens the connected segments of the pole. It should be noted that the diameter of the inner side of one end of a segment is greater than the outer diameter of the subsequent segment thereof, in order to enable interlacing the segments.

A Complex of Apparatuses

FIG. 6 schematically illustrates a camping apparatus, according to one embodiment of the invention. According to this embodiment of the invention, the camping apparatus illustrated in FIG. 1 (a tent) is a segment in a complex of two segments, 2 a and 2 b. This way the volume of the tent can be doubled, tripled and so on.

The apparatus may be designed such that the interior walls are removable, thereby producing a double space.

FIG. 7 schematically illustrates the deployment of the segments of FIG. 6. The connector 56 may be at the common edge, as illustrated in FIG. 7.

FIG. 8 schematically illustrates the deployment of a camping apparatus comprised of three segments, according to one embodiment of the invention.

In FIGS. 6, 7 and 8 each of the numerals 2 a, 2 b and 2 c refer to a segment, and each of the numerals 52 a, 52 b and 52 c refer to a straight edge, which is used for connecting additional camping appliances.

While in FIG. 7 the straight edge 52 a and 52 b for connecting additional camping appliances is a “side” edge, in FIG. 8 the connecting edge is the “top” edge.

According to one embodiment of the invention, the camping apparatus comprises only an inflatable mattress and a sleeping bag.

The camping apparatus may comprise supporting poles, such as detachable poles, poles based on springs, plastic, and so forth.

The sleeping bag, which is one of the appliances of the camping apparatus, may be of quilting, feathers, natural materials, synthetic materials, and of different isolating levels.

Of course that additional camping devices and appliances may be used. For example, pegs, self-opening poles, and so forth. A camping apparatus may be designed for a single user, couple of users, a group of users, and so forth.

In the figures and description herein the following numerals have been used as reference:

-   -   Numeral 2 denotes a camping apparatus.     -   Numeral 4 denotes a curtain which is used as door.     -   Numeral 6 denotes a zipper for the door 4.     -   Numeral 8 denotes a zipper for attaching/separating a camping         appliance from the mattress 22.     -   Numeral 10 denotes a bug-filter for a door of the camping         apparatus 2.     -   Numeral 12 denotes a blanket.     -   Numeral 14 denotes a supporting frame.     -   Each of the numerals 14 a, 14 b, . . . denotes a segment of a         pole/supporting frame.     -   Numeral 16 denotes a supporting pole between two adjacent frames         14.     -   Numeral 18 denotes a connecting point between pole 16 and frame         14.     -   Numeral 20 denotes     -   Numeral 20 denotes a cable for connecting the segments of a         segmented pole.     -   Numeral 22 denotes an inflatable mattress.     -   Numeral 24 denotes a tidy.     -   Numeral 26 denotes a bug-filter for a window of the camping         apparatus 2.     -   Numeral 28 denotes a canopy.     -   Numeral 32 denotes a housing of a clip.     -   Numeral 34 denotes a pin of the clip.     -   Numeral 36 denotes a spring which fastens the cable 20 to the         wall of housing 32 of the clip.     -   Numeral 42 denotes a rubber cable.     -   Each of numerals 44 a and 44 b denotes a ball connected to the         rubber a rubber cable 42 and used as a stopper.     -   Each of numerals 48 a and 48 b denotes a depression of an         interlaced segment 46 a and 46 b correspondingly.

While certain features of the invention have been illustrated and described herein, the invention can be embodied in other forms, ways, modifications, substitutions, changes, equivalents, and so forth. The embodiments described herein should be considered as illustrative and not restrictive. 

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 20. A camping apparatus comprising: a plurality of camping appliances; and at least one connector, for connecting said plurality of camping appliances.
 21. A camping apparatus according to claim 20, wherein at least one of said camping appliances is a tent.
 22. A camping apparatus according to claim 20, wherein at least two of said camping appliances are tents.
 23. A camping apparatus according to claim 20, wherein at least one of said camping appliances is a mattress.
 24. A camping apparatus according to claim 20, wherein one of said camping appliances is a sleeping appliance.
 25. A camping apparatus according to claim 24, wherein said sleeping appliance is selected from a group comprising: a blanket, linen, a pillow, and a sleeping bag.
 26. A camping apparatus according to claim 20, wherein said connector is selected from a group comprising: a zipper, Velcro, a button, sewing, gluing.
 27. A camping apparatus according to claim 23, wherein said mattress is inflatable.
 28. A camping apparatus according to claim 20, wherein at least one of said camping appliances is a tent canopy.
 29. A camping apparatus according to claim 28, further comprising a supporting frame.
 30. A camping apparatus according to claim 29, wherein said supporting frame comprises one or more poles.
 31. A camping apparatus according to claim 30, wherein at least one of said poles is extensible.
 32. A camping apparatus according to claim 30, wherein at least one of said poles comprises a plurality of segments.
 33. A camping apparatus according to claim 33, wherein each of said segments is interlaced with the adjacent one thereof.
 34. A camping apparatus according to claim 33, further comprising a cable for connecting and/or fastening said segments.
 35. A camping apparatus according to claim 34, further comprising one or more clips at the ends of said cable.
 36. An apparatus according to claim 34, wherein at least one of said segments has a truncated conical form.
 37. An apparatus according to claim 34, wherein at least one of said segments has a truncated pyramidal form.
 38. A camping apparatus according to claim 23, wherein said mattress is adapted to be filled with gas.
 39. A camping apparatus according to claim 23, wherein said mattress is adapted to be filled with fluid.
 40. A camping apparatus according to claim 20, wherein each of said camping appliances comprises a substantially straight edge, through which said camping appliance is connectable to an adjacent camping appliance thereof. 